The SFC and MFC Finals take centre stage on Sunday, with league action on the agenda on Saturday.
Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Final
Clontibret v Scotstown, Sunday, 4.00, Clones
Scotstown and Clontibret compete for the Mick Duffy Cup in the Monaghan SFC Final at Clones on Sunday.
Today’s Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Final pairing is a repeat of last year’s, when Scotstown ended a 20-year barren spell with a surprisingly easy defeat of regular contenders Clontibret.
Unlike last year, when Clontibret beat Scotstown in Round 2A, only to see the roles reversed just over a month later, both these teams have taken the direct route to today’s final. Clontibret have beaten Monaghan Harps, Latton and Ballybay, while Scotstown proved too strong for Truagh, Ballybay and Castleblayney.
These teams have had contrasting fortunes in the league this year, with Scotstown slipping back after losing just one of their first eight games, while Clontibret have charged up to the top of the table after a fairly mixed start. Scotstown had a six-point win in the only meeting of these teams so far this year in just one of two defeats suffered by Clontibret to date.
So much of what Clontibret do depends on the influence of their All-Star forward Conor McManus, who has accounted for almost three-quarters of his team’s scores in his time on the pitch in this campaign. Fellow county men Dessie Mone and Conor Boyle are driving forces from the half-back line, with Vincent Corey capable of lining out in a number of positions, as are Paul McGuigan and big Conor Lavelle. Colum Greenan and Martin Corey are other key operators for the O’Neills.
Scotstown can match their opponents’ four county players in the form of Darren and Kieran Hughes, Shane Carey and goalkeeper Rory Beggan. Carey and the pacy Conor McCarthy give Scotstown a real goal threat, with Mark Treanor and veterans Nicholas Corrigan and Brian McGinnity also capable of contributing on the scoreboard. Francis Caulfield and David McCague make up a very experienced midfield partnership, with support from the likes of James Turley and Peter O’Hara, while Mark Duffy, Damien McArdle and the attack-minded Dónal Morgan are key men in the backline.
Maguire Transport Minor Football Championship Division One Final
Donaghmoyne v Magheracloone, Sunday, 2.00, Clones
Donaghmoyne are bidding for a historic double when they take on Magheracloone in Sunday’s curtain-raiser, the MFC Division One Final.
Donaghmoyne won the league final against Carrickmacross convincingly two weeks ago and they are now on the brink of completing a perfect year, following on from their Division Two double in 2013. Donaghmoyne have 14 wins and one draw from 15 competitive matches this year and they have amassed no less than 10-46 in defeating Doohamlet, Monaghan Harps and St. Tiarnach’s on their way to this final. Magheracloone finished bottom of Division Two, but like last year when they turned their year around after a disappointing start to reach the county final, they have found form at the right time.
The Mitchells have run up an impressive total of their own (9-42) in their championship wins over Killanny, Cremartin and Scotstown. Donaghmoyne have been much meaner in defence on their championship run, conceding just 1-32, compared with Magheracloone’s 6-35.
The main men who led Magheracloone’s run to last year’s final – where they lost to Carrickmacross – have moved out of the minor grade but they can still call on Ciarán and Seán McClory, Cian Freeman, Damien Rudden, Pádraig McMahon and Alan Kieran. Donaghmoyne have 2014 county minors in goalkeeper Shane Garland, centre-back Mikey Murnaghan (who won an Ulster MFC last year), midfielder Ronan McDonald and pacy corner-forward David Garland, while Aaron Courtney, Stephen Finnegan and Niall Keenan are also key players.
AIB Ulster Club Junior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final
Castleblayney v Cootehill, Sunday, 3.30, Cootehill
Castleblayney enter the Ulster Club JHC with a quarter-final away to Cootehill on Sunday.
Blayney, who defeated Inniskeen to regain the Monaghan SHC title and went on to complete a double, are previous winners of this competition and have also competed at intermediate level, while Cootehill made their long-awaited breakthrough in Cavan, defeating Ballymachugh after a replay.
Despite Brian McGuigan and Hugh Byrne being injured, Blayney can still call on the likes of Mark and Peter Treanor, Fergal Rafter, Niall Garland, Paddy Finnegan and Cormac McNally. A quite youthful Cootehill team will need big performances from Dermot Connolly, Caoimhín Carney, Lonan McKenna, Josh Crowe and Fiachra Hughes if they are to cause a shock.
The County Monaghan Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League continues on Saturday. It’s third versus second when Castleblayney host neighbours Ballybay, while Monaghan Harps take on Latton and Magheracloone travel to Truagh, who are back in action on Wednesday in an away floodlit game against Currin.
There is a full round in the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League on Saturday, starting with Corduff v Seán McDermotts at 4pm. Championship finalists Donaghmoyne and Inniskeen have home games against Carrickmacross and Emyvale respectively, while at the other end of the table, Cremartin and Rockcorry need wins against Tyholland and Clones to maintain their survival hopes.
JFC winners Drumhowan host Oram in the Eurotech Junior Football League on Saturday, while runners-up Blackhill travel to Aghabog. League leaders Aughnamullen are away to Toome, with Killeevan and Éire Óg also meeting.
In the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions, Carrickmacross and Castleblayney contest the Under-16 Hurling Championship Final in Inniskeen on Friday evening, with Monaghan Harps and Truagh meeting in the Under-16 Football Championship Division One Final in Emyvale on Saturday. Aughnamullen and Blackhill host the Under-14 Hurling League Finals involving Castleblayney, Cootehill, Inniskeen and Truagh on Sunday.
Monaghan’s ladies football champions Donaghmoyne (senior), Monaghan Harps (intermediate) and Aughnamullen (junior) are in Ulster club action on Sunday, as are Clontibret camogie seniors.
By cshalvey Sat 4th Oct
